Board Members
The Aransas First Land Trust is governed by a dedicated board comprised of local community members who share a deep commitment to protecting the natural heritage that makes our region special. These passionate volunteers bring diverse backgrounds and expertise to their stewardship role, united by their love for the area’s pristine landscapes, wildlife habitats, and scenic waterways. Through their leadership, the board ensures that future generations will continue to enjoy and benefit from the irreplaceable natural treasures that define our community’s character and environmental legacy.
Janae Evans
Janae Evans is a 5th generation Texan with a deep connection to the land and the Gulf. The love of nature began as a child growing up on the bayous of Houston near the vast Katy prairie, and fostered into adulthood when she entered the field of commercial real estate more than 30 years ago.
In 2017, Janae directed her focus southward, where the bountiful South Texas terrain intersects with the sparkling saltwater bays of the Coastal Bend. Janae’s love for wildlife photography and saltwater flyfishing flourished, but her move to Rockport, TX was promptly followed by the direct landfall of Hurricane Harvey, a disruptive force which drastically changed the landscape, both literally and figuratively.
A development boom ensued, and Janae became passionate about smart, sustainable development to offset the threat of habitat loss. In the process, she joined the board of Aransas First and began to identify opportunities for balancing development with land conservation in a meaningful way. She helped to build awareness amongst developers and investors for land conservation and land planning practices in sensitive habitats of Aransas County and surrounding areas. She grew connections within the land trust community, fostered governmental relationships and strived for a higher standard of land stewardship. She remains steadfastly committed to lending her expertise toward influencing positive change in the public and private sector.
Janae received a BA degree from the University of Houston in 1989 and now serves as president of Evtex Companies – a boutique commercial real estate firm – and president of Aransas First Land Trust which fosters a mission to increase public awareness of ecosystems that are unique to the area through education, access, and participation.
Bill Burge
Bill Burge relocated from Houston to Rockport in 2017 after a successful career in Healthcare Information Technology. Bill and his wife Janice reside in Lamar, close to the Big Tree. As a member of the Mid-Coast Texas Master Naturalist class of 2017 Bill was introduced to a wide range of ecological and environmental organizations and initiatives. As a member of the Coastal Conservation Association Executive Council Bill helped lead the effort to protect our native oyster reefs from overharvest. He is also active in efforts to restore the oysters as a member of the Advisory Committee for an Oyster Brood Stock project sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Bill has held leadership positions in the Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio Bay Partnership and the MidCoast Master Naturalist chapter. Since joining the Aransas First Land Trust Board Bill’s primary focus has been on development of the Lamar Burton Wildlife Sanctuary.
Earl B. Matthew, M.D.
Earl was raised on a ranch near Yoakum, Texas. He started visiting Rockport at age 6. His family built a cottage on Henderson St in 1956. Wanting to become a wildlife biologist, he instead became an MD human/microorganism biologist as a specialist in Infectious Diseases.
He directed Medical Residency programs in Austin for 22 years.
He and his wife, Lonnie, moved to Rockport in 1997, He is still in part-time medical practice in
Corpus Christi and has continued to be active as a medical educator. His environmental work began in 1986 stimulated by a friend giving land to a small land trust and is on the BOD of the Texas Land Conservancy, the Texas Conservation Alliance, and was on National Wildlife Federation BOD for 9 years as regional representative of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma for TCA.
Both became Master Naturalists in 2004. Lonnie, also a Master Gardener, later State MG Pres, was the first chair of the Environmental Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. Earl was asked to join the Aransas First BOD, and later became President through 2021, getting grants from GLO, CBBEP, FEMA , City, and County to restore Tule East, clear invasive Species from the old Tule West lakebed, develop the Live Oak Education Center for ACISD, restore the Cove Harbor Boardwalk and Aransas Woods after Hurricane Harvey, and obtain the Lamar Burton Wetlands with monies from a generous donor and grants to develop it for public access. They partnered to help stimulate development of the Storm Water Management Plan and the Aransas Pathways Project of the County with model steering committees made up of representatives of the four governmental entities and citizens representing community organizations. He is trails Chair of Aransas Pathways. These, along with the land trust, promote the preservation of key areas for birding, history, kayaking, biking, and trails to enhance not only the unique habitat we live on for our residents, but to make it enjoyable and educational for visitors, stimulating our ecotourism economy.
Shelly Schubert-Steckler
Shelly Schubert-Steckler, a proud Rockport-Fulton Graduate, holds a Bachelor of Science/Arts/Business Administration degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Shelly is currently working as a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Coastal Bend . She combines her knowledge of the local area with her passion for helping clients find their dream homes. Shelly is married to Jeffrey Steckler Sr., the owner of Professional Tree Care, he has been servicing our community’s tree care needs for over 20 years.
Shelly is deeply committed to preserving and conserving the natural beauty of the Rockport area. She actively serves on several committees. She is Chairman of the City of Rockport Tree Committee and serves on the Aransas County Tree Committee, Rockport Parks & Leisure Board
and the Aransas First Land Trust Board of Directors. She regularly attends the local Stormwater & Floodplain Management Advisory Committee meetings and Aransas Pathway meetings to stay abreast of local environmental issues. Shelly’s passion, advocacy and dedication contribute to the ongoing protection of Rockport’s natural resources.
Maureen Crocker
Maureen Crocker has a Masters degree in Urban Planning and Policy. She spent her professional career in government service including working on Capitol Hill and for several Houston mayors. During her public service, Maureen served on governmental boards and gained a strong appreciation for coalition building and interagency cooperation as a means to move initiatives forward. She has extensive experience in grant writing, intergovernmental relations and infrastructure planning.
In 2021, Maureen and her husband, Ben, moved to Rockport full-time where he became a nature photographer and she trained with the Aransas-San Patricio Master Gardeners and the Midcoast Chapter Texas Master Naturalists. Working with Aransas First land trust provides the opportunity for Maureen to put her knowledge and experience to work in support of the Aransas ecosystem so it, and the community, continue to thrive and attract visitors – both human and avian!
Cassandra Napoleon-Perkins
Cassandra Napoleon Perkins graduated from Rockport-Fulton HS, holds a Paralegal Degree from Southern Careers Institute, and has taken Real Estate classes from the Real Estate Institute in Corpus Christi.
Currently working as a Supervisor at Rockport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and part-time paralegal and Former Tax Professional at H&R Block.
She was a past member of the Rockport Parks Advisory Board, and a former board member of the Rockport History Center, and has great enthusiasm for Aransas County.
Cassandra has strived to preserve and protect the splendor, beauty, and history of Rockport.
Debbie Griffith
Debbie Griffith brings a lifelong passion for nature and community to her role as Secretary of the Aransas First Land Trust Board of Directors. Originally from San Antonio, Debbie spent her career in Houston managing Employee Benefits and Environmental Health & Safety programs for major corporations. In 2018, she and her husband, Steve, made the move to Rockport, drawn by a deep connection to the area, a love for the outdoors and a quieter, more nature-connected life.
Since becoming a Certified Texas Master Naturalist in 2019, Debbie has been an
active volunteer in Aransas County, dedicating her time and energy to conservation and education. Her training led her to join CoBALT (Coastal Bend Archaeological Logistics Team), where she spent five years participating in Paleo-
Indian artifact excavations near Victoria, Texas.
Deeply committed to preserving both natural and historical resources, Debbie also serves on the Board of the History Center for Aransas County and leads the Aransas County Tree Committee. She is also active in Coastal Oaks Church. Known for her enthusiasm and willingness to connect with people and nature, she frequently volunteers and supports community initiatives throughout the Rockport-Fulton area.
Monica Clark
Monica Clark is originally from Dallas, Texas. Moving to Rockport in 1978, Monica enjoyed teaching Early Childhood, Kindergarten, & English as a Second Language. One of the first experiences she had in Rockport, was the pleasure of riding over Aransas County in a helicopter. She had never seen so many fresh & saltwater wetlands. She owned Sign Xpress; in Corpus Christi, from 1986-2019. Monica sold cabi Designer Women’s clothing for 13 years. She likes to stay busy by volunteering for non-profit organizations. Monica was instrumental in Rockport Little Theatre’s purchase of their property on Austin Street. She is Membership Chairman of Aransas County Womens Lions Club & on the Board of Directors for the Rockport Cultural Arts District.
After Hurricane Harvey; in 2017, she became more interested in conservation, ecosystems, and natural habitats. Monica has her Texas Master Naturalist Certificate, and is happy to serve on Aransas First Land Trust Board of Director’s. She would like to take another helicopter ride to view the Live Oak Peninsula.
Phil Stranahan
Phil Stranahan is a seasoned entrepreneur and former computer industry professional with over 30 years of experience in computer software and hardware. He proudly owned and operated his own business for three decades, with a specialty in PC networks for State Agencies in Austin, Texas. Before his entrepreneurial journey, Phil spent three years at NASA, where he worked in Astronaut training for Link Aircraft company, where he helped install and test the simulators for the Apollo II capsule and the Lunar lander trainers.
In his retirement years, he pursues his passion for the history of the Civil War era in Texas, and is actively interested in land resource preservation, including the safeguarding of wetlands and natural habitats.
Rachael Diaz
Rachael Diaz moved to Rockport in 1992. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology in 1994 from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and went on to earn her Master’s degree in 2000. She has been involved with the Earth Day Bay Day Celebration, Friends of Connie Hagar, Hummer Bird Festival, and Wings Rescue Center. Her relationship with Aransas First began in 2012 when the Friends of Connie Hagar requested a conservation easement. She currently teaches chemistry and advanced placement environmental science
at Rockport Fulton High School.
Robert Mitchell
Robert is a husband to Kerri Mitchell, a local high school teacher, and is the father to two adult girls, and five Grandchildren. His wife’s family has come to Rockport to move/retire for several generations. Each generation gets younger, and the family joke is that they are getting better at getting here as fast as they can. Mitchell’s move here after his military retirement has allowed him the longevity to have many active decades as a productive member of the community. He is currently Past Chairman of the Board with the Chamber of Commerce. He is also the past President of the Rockport Fulton ISD Education Foundation. Five years ago, he was awarded the honor of Chamber Member of the Year and has been awarded Bay Blazer of the year twice. Two years ago, he was named Aransas County Citizen of the year and his family’s business HIIT Enterprises was named Small Business of the Year. He is a Graduate of Leadership Aransas County Class 19, and was the Director of Classes Twenty and Twenty-Five.
Robert Mitchell retired from the United States Air Force in January of 2011 with many decorations and awards, including the Outstanding Unit Citation with a” V” device for Valor in Combat. His career spanned over twenty-two years. He is a Veteran of the Gulf War, Operations Joint Forge and Coronet Oak, as well as Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sally Scroggs and Greg Simmons
Sally Scroggs and Greg Simmons began visiting the Rockport area for outdoor recreation and relaxation in the early 1990s. They enjoy kayaking, fly fishing, birding … They moved to the area full-time from Houston in 2016, Sally a retired health care professional and Greg a retired geoscientist. Over the years they have witnessed population and economic growth and increased cultural opportunities. They have also witnessed the loss of ecological habitat that makes the area special. Sally and Greg are
Texas Master Naturalist volunteers. Their favorite volunteer activities include being kayak guides at Goose Island State Park, avian rescue and rehabilitation at Wings Rescue Center, and preserving/reestablishing native landscapes in our area. For Aransas First land trust they are the property stewards for the Cove Harbor Wetlands Sanctuary. Their commitment to Aransas First is to help maintain the ecological health and recreational value of our area for all, today and in the future, through acquisition, preservation and education of key properties our coastal ecology and public access
depend upon.